How many euros on average per hour worked?

In 2017, the compensation of employee received by hour worked in 2017 was on average €23.1 in the European Union (EU) and €26.9 in the euro area. This compares with €19.5 and €21.8 respectively ten years before, in 2007.

Employee compensation per hour worked highest in Luxembourg, Denmark and Belgium, lowest in Bulgaria and Romania

Across the EU Member States, the compensation of employees per hour worked in 2017 was highest in Luxembourg (€43.8 in 2016), followed by Denmark (€38.7) and Belgium (€37.9 in 2016). It also was above €30 in France (€33.0), the Netherlands (€33.7 in 2016) and Germany (€32.3).

In contrast, the compensation of employees was below €10 per hour worked in Bulgaria (€5.1), Romania (€5.5), Poland (€6.3 in 2016), Hungary (€7.6), Lithuania (€8.4), Croatia (€8.5 in 2016) and Latvia (€8.6).

Compared with 2007, the compensation of employees per hour worked was higher in 2017 in all Member States, except in Greece where it fell by 7% (from €12.1 to €11.2) and the United Kingdom (from €27.3 to €25.5, or -7%). The largest relative increase over this ten-year period was recorded in Bulgaria (from €2.3 to €5.1, or +122%), ahead of Estonia (+67%), Slovakia and Lithuania (both 62%).

The average compensation of employee received by hour worked is calculated by dividing national accounts data on compensation of employees for the total economy, which include wages and salaries as well as employers' social contributions, by the total number of hours worked by all employees.

The compensation of employees is one of the Social Scoreboard indicators supporting the European Pillar of Social Rights.